University of Southern Mississippi officials will be meeting with Hattiesburg City Council members in the coming days to discuss a Southern Miss appeal to have the city of Hattiesburg contribute financially to upgrades at Reed Green Coliseum.

President Rodney Bennett made the request at a special-called City Council meeting Thursday.

"The University of Southern Mississippi needs your help," he said. "I am here to ask the city to help the university with much needed improvements to Reed Green Coliseum.

"I am here asking for your help because, quite frankly, we do not have any other options for assistance."

The coliseum opened in December 1965 and has had no significant improvements since then. Recently, the university added video boards and painted the interior bowl, but in its 52 years, upgrades have been few.

Currently, Reed Green Coliseum hosts Southern Miss men's and women's basketball games and practices as well as university and high school graduation ceremonies. Science fairs and summer camps have also been held there. But Bennett said a renovated Reed Green could also serve as a spot for conventions, trade shows and concerts.

Several questions remain unanswered about the appeal. How much financial help does the university want and in what form? When does it need it? And exactly what renovations will be done?

In January 2015, former Golden Eagle athletic director Bill McGillis unveiled plans to overhaul the facility after partnering with Populous, an architecture firm, to conduct a feasibility study. At the time, McGillis said the project would likely cost approximately $35 million-$45 million.

McGillis left his post at Southern Miss in December 2016.

Current athletic director Jon Gilbert also addressed City Council.

"We do look at Reed Green as a community asset," he said. "There are multiple things the facility can do for the community."

Gilbert said the coliseum's current seating capacity of about 8,000 would remain in the 8,000-9,000 range after construction.

The University of Southern Mississippi's new athletic director Jon Gilbert is given a Golden Eagle hat during a press conference in the Jim and Thomas Duff Athletic Center on Jan. 24, 2017.
Susan Broadbridge/Hattiesburg American